Nominate a business for chamber excellence awards

The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2016 Community Excellence Awards.

Awards include: social media, citizen of the year, customer service, youth of the year (sponsored by Gillian Trumper), volunteer of the year, tourism and hospitality, rising star, green award, business investment, welcoming workplace, business excellence, health and fitness, and spirit of music.

Kevin Wright won the Small Business Excellence award in 2013, in his first year in business. “I got it in the first six months we were open,” says the owner of Steampunk Café and Coffee House. “It was really compelling for me.”

The acknowledgment from the local community was special, he said. “It was a nice boost for a new business to get that recognition.”

As a winner, that year Wright was also nominated for the Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, where he said “it felt good to represent Port Alberni…it was pretty stiff competition.”

Nominations for the Alberni Valley awards close on Friday, Feb. 19. Nominations can be made online at www.albernichamber.ca (follow the links to Chamber Excellence Awards) or by calling the chamber at 250-724-6535.

The awards gala will take place April 22 at the Italian Hall. Tickets are $75 each.